Method and device for random number generation
A method and device for generating random numbers, via photons entering a non-opaque volume, illuminating a plurality of photodetectors with photons producing a stochastic response which is digitized to yield random numbers. Photodetectors may be illuminated via photons exiting via at least one surface which is not parallel to at least one plane in which lies a surface where light is entering, thereby illuminating photodetectors; or via, reflecting photons from at least one interior surface (of the non-opaque volume), wherein for a plurality of points thereon the degree of directionality is different, thereby illuminating photodetectors; or via, repeatedly reflecting photons from at least two interior surfaces of the non-opaque volume thereby illuminating photodetectors; or via, combinations or variations thereof.
1 . A device for generating random numbers, comprising:
at least one light source emitting photons entering at least one non-opaque volume;
at least one surface adapted to reflect the photons internal to the at least one non-opaque volume;
a plurality of photodetectors, at least one of the plurality of photodetectors being illuminated with the photons;
at least one digitizer digitizing a response of the plurality of photodetectors, yielding random numbers, wherein the response is stochastic due to photon statistics, and a configuration of the at least one light source, the at least one non-opaque volume and the plurality of photodetectors is selected from a group consisting of:
a configuration in which the at least one light source emits the photons entering the at least one non-opaque volume which propagate via multiple reflections through the at least one non-opaque volume and exit the at least one non-opaque volume thus illuminating the at least one of the plurality of photodetectors, wherein at least one surface where the photons exit is not parallel to at least one plane in which lies a surface where the photons entered the at least one non-opaque volume;
a configuration in which the at least one light source emits the photons entering the at least one non-opaque volume which reflect from the at least one surface thereby illuminating the plurality of photodetectors, wherein for a plurality of points on the at least one surface of the at least one non-opaque volume a degree of directionality is different; and
a configuration in which the at least one light source emits the photons entering the at least one non-opaque volume which reflect repeatedly between at least two surfaces of the at least one non-opaque volume thereby illuminating the plurality of photodetectors, wherein the at least one light source does not lie in a same plane as the plurality of photodetectors.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the configuration of the at least one light source, the at least one non-opaque volume and the plurality of photodetectors comprises the configuration in which the at least one light source emits the photons entering the at least one non-opaque volume which propagate via multiple reflections through the at least one non-opaque volume and exit the at least one non-opaque volume thus illuminating the at least one of the plurality of photodetectors, wherein the at least one surface where the photons exit is not parallel to the at least one plane in which lies the surface where the photons entered the at least one non-opaque volume.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the configuration of the at least one light source, the at least one non-opaque volume and the plurality of photodetectors comprises the configuration in which the at least one light source emits the photons entering the at least one non-opaque volume which reflect from the at least one surface thereby illuminating the plurality of photodetectors, wherein for the plurality of points on the at least one surface of the at least one non-opaque volume the degree of directionality is different.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the configuration of the at least one light source, the at least one non-opaque volume and the plurality of photodetectors comprises the configuration in which the at least one light source emits the photons entering the at least one non-opaque volume which reflect repeatedly between the at least two surfaces of the at least one non-opaque volume thereby illuminating the plurality of photodetectors, wherein the at least one light source does not lie in the same plane as the plurality of photodetectors.
5 . The device in claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source is a diode.
6 . The device in claim 1 , wherein at least one photodetector of the plurality of photodetectors is selected from a group consisting of a pixel of a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor, and a pixel of a charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor.
7 . The device in claim 1 , wherein at least one photodetector of the plurality of photodetectors has a sensitivity limit from a single-photon level to a two or more photon level.
8 . The device in claim 1 , wherein a geometry of the at least one non-opaque volume has at least one pair of surfaces which lie in parallel planes and the photons reflect from both of the at least one pair of surfaces and pass from one surface of the at least one pair to another surface of the at least one pair.
9 . The device in claim 1 , wherein the at least one non-opaque volume includes a geometry constructed by taking a body comprising at least one pair of surfaces which lie in parallel planes, and angling one surface of the at least one pair of surfaces towards the other.
10 . The device in claim 1 , wherein the at least one non-opaque volume comprises at least one material which is glassy and the at least one non-opaque volume consists of one or more materials and media selected from a group consisting of non-liquid materials, optical free space media, coatings and adhesives.
11 . The device in claim 1 , wherein the device is adapted with a postprocessor to post-process the random numbers via a post-processing method comprising a method selected from a group consisting of: randomness extraction, post-processing via a pseudorandom function, and post-processing via a hash function.
12 . The device in claim 1 , wherein the at least one photodetector of the plurality of photodetectors is illuminated such that a contribution of photon shot noise to a total noise of a response of the at least one photodetector exceeds a contribution of photodetector dark noise to the total noise.
13 . The device in claim 1 , wherein the at least one non-opaque volume comprises optical free space.
14 . The device in claim 1 , wherein the at least one non-opaque volume comprises at least one polymeric material and the at least one non-opaque volume consists of one or more materials and media selected from a group consisting of non-liquid materials, optical free space media, coatings and adhesives.
15 . The device in claim 1 , wherein at least a portion other than a surface of the at least one non-opaque volume scatters light and comprises a solid.
16 . The device in claim 1 , wherein the at least one non-opaque volume comprises a volume with a solid bulk material.
17 . The device in claim 1 , wherein the at least one non-opaque volume comprises a volume comprising a closed hollow structure with at least one partially to fully transmissive window.
18 . The device in claim 1 , wherein the at least one non-opaque volume comprises a volume selected from a group consisting of: a non-opaque volume comprising a closed hollow structure with at least one partially to fully transmissive window, and a volume with a solid bulk material.
19 . A method for generating random numbers, comprising:
emitting photons into a non-opaque volume;
illuminating a plurality of photodetectors with the photons such that a response of the plurality of photodetectors is stochastic due to photo statistics; and
digitizing the response to yield random numbers,
wherein said illuminating the plurality of photodetectors is selected from a group consisting of:
propagating the photons via multiple reflections, the photons exiting via at least one surface of the non-opaque volume which is not parallel to at least one plane in which lies a surface of the non-opaque volume where light is entering, thereby illuminating the plurality of photodetectors;
reflecting the photons from at least one interior surface of the non-opaque volume, wherein for a plurality of points thereon a degree of directionality is different, thereby illuminating the plurality of photodetectors; and
repeatedly reflecting the photons from at least two interior surfaces of the non-opaque volume thereby illuminating the plurality of photodetectors which do not lie in the same plane as a light source emitting light.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein said illuminating comprises propagating the photons via multiple reflections, the photons exiting via the at least one surface of the non-opaque volume which is not parallel to the at least one plane in which lies the surface of the non-opaque volume where the light is entering, thereby illuminating the plurality of photodetectors.
21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein said illuminating comprises reflecting the photons from the at least one interior surface of the non-opaque volume, and
wherein for the plurality of points thereon the degree of directionality is different, thereby illuminating the plurality of photodetectors.
22 . The method of claim 19 , wherein said illuminating comprises repeatedly reflecting the photons from the at least two interior surfaces of the non-opaque volume thereby illuminating the plurality of photodetectors which do not lie in the same plane as the light source emitting light.
23 . The method of claim 19 , wherein said photons are emitted using a diode.
24 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising producing a response from at least one photodetector of the plurality of photodetectors, the at least one photodetector being selected from a group consisting of a pixel of a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor, and a pixel of a charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor.
25 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising producing a response from at least one photodetector of the plurality of photodetectors having a sensitivity limit from a single-photon level to a two or more photon level.
26 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising post-processing the random numbers, wherein the said post-processing comprises a method selected from a group consisting of: randomness extraction, post-processing via a pseudorandom function, and post-processing via a hash function.
27 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising illuminating at least one photodetector of the plurality of photodetectors such that a contribution of photon shot noise to a total noise of a response of the at least one photodetector exceeds a contribution of photodetector dark noise to the total noise.
28 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the non-opaque volume comprises optical free space.
29 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the non-opaque volume comprises at least one material which is polymeric and the non-opaque volume consists of one or more materials and media selected from a group consisting of non-liquid materials, optical free space media, coatings and adhesives.
30 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising scattering the light within at least a portion other than a surface of the non-opaque volume which comprises a solid.